Automatically vented liquid flow regulating valve



c. F. RUSCONI 2,603,493

AUTOMATICALLY VENTED LIQUID FLOW REGULATING VALVE July 15, 1952 Filed Feb. 6, 1950 w Q 0 R HUEBNER BEEHLER WORREL HERZ/G 8 CALDWELL A TTOR/VEVS Patented July 15,1952

* UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE .7;603,493- a ti'roMA'rIcALLivEN'rED LIQUID FLOW QIR G' A I G YAPYE Carlo F. Rusconi, new; Calif. Assn-am February 6, 1950 Serial No. 142,558

' Claims.

1 The Present invention relates to valves and more particularly to'a valve adapted to regulate liquid flow by adjustment thereof and automatic'allyto emittheret hrough any air or gas car ried by su'cha liquid. jFarming in arid regions requires frequent irrigatio'n'oi'the soil; 'It is the usual practice to-con duct water from a source 'thereoig'su ch as a-well orf'r'eservoir, to areas requiring water; through concrete or tile aqueducts. 'Whether'the conducting of the water is by pressure or'gra'vity flow, air and well gas frequently collects in the aqueducts forming socalle 'i vaporlocks therein; Further, such air an'd gas' tends to seek'out and to enlarge pores, cracks-and th like in the aqueducts, causing' rapid deterioration thereof. Because oi the difliculties incident to the collection of air and gas,

it 'is usually necessary for acus'memn frequently to bleedthe' aqueducts' by manually opening widely disperse'd valvesin-the irrigation system; This is' 'no't' only 'a time-consuming and expensive procedure but-it is not always'efiective'in'that it is,

-water.""Ob'viously; such an expedient cannot be employed in pressure systems becauseof the excessive heights required and 'i'n gravity systems the disadvantage of providing an obstruction occupying space more advantageously: employed for other purposes. Further, such"staindpipesor vents, are subject to frequent damage by' being struck by tractors and implements "drawn -there- It is anobj'ect of-the present invention to provide'an improved valve: adapted to exhaust air and gastherethroughwvhile effectively regulating or blocking flow of'liquid. A further obj ect is to' provide m'e'ansior'bleed ing air and gas from subterranean irrig'ation sy's tems and the like which need not be extended appreciablyabove' the surface of the soil to accomplish its intended purposes. 1 4 j --Other'objects are to provide a valve of the character and-for the purposes set'forth that is fully efiective' in its operation, economical to produce, readily adapte'd "to conventional irrigation a ueductsandsy'stenis, and durable in structure. Still further objects and advantages of the present invention "will. become apparent in the subsequent description in the specification.

l, V V 2 1 Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a portion of-a subterranean irrigation systemshowing an irrigation T incorporating the valve of the present j invention --interconneoting sections of irrigation tile. 1111' I Figure 2 plan view-of the valve of the present invention? Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view through the valve.

The combined control valve and bleed valve of the present invention has many adaptations and uses but is illustrated and described in connection .Withan irrigation system, a portion of which is illustrated in'Figur'e l of the drawing, 'In this view is shown a hollow irrigation T [0 having 'a horizontal tubular portion H and a vertical standpipe l2 extending upWardly'f-rom'the horizontal portion. Irrigation tile 1 3; 1 shown fragme'nta'rily in the Figure-:1, haves adjacent ends secured'in communication with the interior" of the ram: provide waterv flow to and from the T. Theirrli gationfr'and tile are embeddedin soil l4 with'the standpipe; I2 of the .T extending "to,i."or slightly above, the surface of the soil, as isithe normal practice in irrigation standpipes. .'The' outlet I2 of the T preferably "extends upwardlyvsufficiently thatdirt and other foreign matter does notmad il'y fall into the T; The T intrconnectsethe'ends of adj acentrtile and provides an: outlet'for water carried'by theaqueductjrepresented by the .tile I3 and-horizontalportion of th -T. u 7-: A ,valve nof: .the present invention including-a water -flow -regulating portion lfliand an air and gas bleeding :portion I9rare'supported internally of the standpipe I2 of the T by securing a ring 20 coaxially in the outlet, thereof. The ring is secured by forming an annular rib 2! on the periphery of the ring which rests on a shoulder 22 formed in" the outlet |2'. 'A seal 2 3 of cementor the "like fills the spacebetween the ring'and the interior of the-outlet [2 above the rib 2| securing theLri-ng :inplace; :Anylindrical boss' 28 is su ported coaxially of the ring "20 near-its lower' end by means of a spaced spider29'extending radially betweenthe ring and boss. The bossisprovided with a' coaxial internally screwthreaded opening 30? The bossfspiderfand 'ring are conveniently integrally cast from iron or othersuitable mate rial m {A 'circular valve plate 32 havinganouter'fdiameter slightly larger than the outer dianjiet'erj of the ring 20" is adapted to seat-against the "upper edge of the ringvvhich is" machined or ground to a smooth valve'seat' 33. A screw-threaded stud 3 34 is attached coaxially of the valve plate and extends downwardly therefrom to threaded engagement with the tapped boss 28 for manual vertical control of the valve plate relative to its valve seat to regulate the flow of water there- A resilient ball 43, of such density asYtoybe" buoyant in water or other liquid with which it is to operate but not to float in air or gas is located I in the cup. Rubber and plastic air-filled balls are excellently suited to the purpose. When the ball is enveloped by air or gas it remains atrest in the cup 40 but when immersed in water or other liquid it is buoyed. therein and rises from the cup. i I .j

wA cast, -stamped, or otherwise formed, bellshaped housing 48 is mounted concentrically on the. plate 32 and serves to enclose the cup 40 and ball 43. Thehousing provides; a generally hemispherical portion 49, having" a circumscribing mounting flange 50 at its lower extremity,- and an erect sleeve in its upper portion. The flange 50has a pluralityof openings formed therethrough and a like number of capscrews 52 are extended downwardly through the openings and screw-threadedly engagedin the plate 32. To .provid'ea fluid-tight seal between the housing and the plate, a gasket- 53 is provided therebetween.:;.

'The...cylindrical sleeve 5l is preferably formed integrally with the housing 48 coaxially thereof with; the inner end of the sleeve extending inwardly' of the inner surface of the housing-pro viding a ball valve. seat 56 at its inner end." A

plurality of passages 51 are formed radially through the wall of the sleeve 55'exteriorly of the housing for'the passage of air or gas from the housing. Dirt, dust,- and other foreign matter is prevented. from entering the passages 51 by providing external screw threads at the upper terminalend 'of the sleeve 5|. A cap 59 is internallyiscrewthreaded at Blland is screwed onto theuppererid of the sleeve with a skirt 6| of the cap extending downwardly in adjacent spaced relation to the portion of the sleeve 5! having the passages-51. Thus, fluids may pass throughthe passages" 51 but the skirt 6| circumscribing the sleeve shields the passages from foreign matter descending thereon.

' Operation The utility and operation of'the valve: of the present invention is believed to be apparent'and is'briefly summarized. With the valve mounted inan irrigation T, as shown anddescribed; irri gation water is pumped-or otherwise causedto flow into the aqueduct including the T "under sufii cient gravity orgother pressure to be able to rise' through the valve. I The valve plate 32 is normally closed against the valve seat 33 until manuallyopened for the passage of water therethrough for irrigation purposes. As the water flows through the irrigation tile [3, air previously contained therein rises. through valves of the present invention preferably installed ,periodi eally along the length of the aqueduct. j

The air is vented through each valve by pass-e ingupwardly through the perforations: 3 5, the

The cup is welded or other 4 housing 48 and exhausting to the atmosphere through the passages 51. The perforations serve to screen dirt and debris in the aqueduct from passing into the housing 48. The ball 43, being heavier than air or gas remains at rest in the cup 40 during venting of air and gas from the housing.

When the venting is completed, water rises through the perforations 35flintov the. housing causing the ball 43 to be'buoyed; When the water has reached a suflicient elevation, the ball is "urgedinto closing engagement against the seat .56 preventing flow of water therefrom; The cup 4fl and seat '56 on the lower end of the sleeve .5I are so arranged as to center the ball 43 on the seat.

The ball 43 remains in closed position against the seat 55 as long as water is forced upwardly intotheihousing 48. When water flow into the aqueduct is terminated, the water in the housing 48 drains downwardly through the perforations 35, the; water level recedes-and the ball 43 is gently lowered into the-cup 40 in position for successive bleeding and seatingoperations. The improved valve hasbeen foundin actual operation effectively -;to exhaust air: and gas-therethrough while pacial adjustmentof the plate 32 relative to the; seat 33 rfi ulates 1or-blocks,--as desired, irrigation ;water suppliedtothe standpipe;v Employment of the valves eliminates the vapor locks previously. referred to and minimizes the deterioration ofxaqueducts of the type :described. incident to the seeking out of pores, cracks, and the like therein by airand-gas.

Although I .haveherein shownqand described m invention in what I.have;.conceived tobe the most practical and preferred .embodimentit is recognized that f departures may be made therefrom within the' scope of my invention, which=is not to Joe. limited. to the details. disclosed herein; but is to be accorded'thefull scope of the, claims soas to embrace any and alltequivalent devices and-systems. a t Having described my invention,; what I :claim as new and desire to secure byLetters-Patenhis:

1. An irrigation valve comprising, a circular valve seat, a valve plate adapted for fluid tight engagement with i the; valve seat, screw-threaded means interconnecting the seat .andplate" for controlled spacial adjustment thereof, said-plate. having perforations tghereima housing having a 7 port. therein. mounted in fluid-tight engagement on the plate in covering relation to the perforaie; tions', andmeans contained by the housing for emittingairf fromthe-housing andblocking liquid flow therefrom. r 1

2.-A combination irrigation valve and-bleed valve comprising an annular ring adapted tobe mounted axially vertically in an irrigation standpipe, said ring having.a valve sseatformed around its upper edge, a circular'valve plate havingperiforations formed therethroughklocated-r 'ov'erlthe annular ringmovable vertically in' a closing and opening relation theret ;v meansfor. manually raising and'lowering-the valve p-late relative tothe valve seat, ahollowvertical housing secured Vera tically and coaxiallyon theyvalve plate with-the perforations of. thevalve.- platecommunicating with the interior of the housing, an inwardly and downwardly directed bleed'valve seat formed interiorly of the upper end ofthe housing anda liquid buoyant ball normally resting within the housingbelow the bleed valve seat/movable to closed positionagainst the bleed valve seat-in the presence of liquidwithin-theghousing. I

3. An irrigation valve comprising a circular valve seat, a valve plate adapted for fluid engagement with the seat, screw-threaded means interconnecting the seat and plate for controlled spacial adjustment thereof, said plate having perforations formed therein, a housing having an open upper end mounted in fluid-tight engagement on the plate in covering relation to the perforations,

a valve seat integral with the housing circumscribing ftheopening in the upper end thereof, a resilient buoyant ball adapted to form fluid-tight engagement with the valve seat of the housing when buoyed by aliquid entering the housing through theperforations, and means adapted to retain the'ball in substantial alignment with the housing'valve seat in the absence of liquid in the housing, 4. A valve comprising a valve seat, a valve plate fitted in fluid tight engagement with the valve seat, said plate having an opening therethrough, means formoving the plate to and from engagement withthe valve seat, a housing having a port therein mounted in fiuid tight engagement on the plate in covjering relation to the opening, means contained by the housing for emitting air from the housing and blocking liquid flow therefrom through the port, and a cap mounted on the housing in shielding relation to the port providing an exhaust opening for the port.

5. A valve comprising a valve seat, a valve port.

plate, means for moving the plate to and from engagement with the seat, said seat and plate defining a continuously open fiuid passage therethrough and a discharge opening therebetween closed by movement of the plate to seat engagement, a housing having a, port therein mounted in fluid tight engagement on the plate in registration with the fluid passage, and means contained by the housing for emitting air from the housing and blocking liquid flow therefrom throughthe CARLO F. RUSCONIQ REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

